SPTC’s measures against COVID-19 Pandemic |20 March 2020

People queueing up for their cards yesterday (Photo: Jude Morel)

Commuters express mixed feelings

There have been mixed feelings among commuters with regard to measures taken by the Seychelles Public Transport Company (SPTC) to protect both its staff and members of the public from contracting the COVID-19.

On Wednesday, the company announced new hygiene measures to protect its workers and customers from the spread of COVID-19. The company also announced that it will no longer be accepting cash transactions on buses and will only be using card based payments.

Many commuters have expressed their satisfaction over the initiative stating that it will mitigate the risk for the SPTC drivers to catch the virus as well as the public because there will be no exchange of cash from one hand to another.

However like many initiatives taken by the government during this time of crisis, there has been some negative backlash from the public as many feel that the new system is being rushed. This was made evident by the long queues at the bus station yesterday that went all the way to the Perseverance terminal.

Many feel that SPTC is going about this the wrong way especially during a time where we should all be practising social distancing.

Seychelles NATION reached out to Maxwell Julie, the deputy CEO of STC, who noted that they have adopted a new system of distributing the cards to minimise large crowds at the bus station.

“We have been in touch with businesses across all platforms for them to take down the name of employees that will require a bus pass,” said Mr Julie.

He stated that the reason for this is because employers already have the details of their employees such as their N.I.N thus it will make the collection of information faster and easier for all parties involved as well as keeping in line with the necessary precautions advised by the department of health.

It is important to note that the cards will be given for free to everyone who wishes to have one, but it is up to the commuter to charge it with whichever amount he/she will like.

Mr Julie also noted that they have been collaborating with the ministry of education in order to provide a card that will be available for students, adding that all other card options which include cards for the disabled and senior citizens will still be available.

With regard to the many instances where the ticket machines do not recognise bus pass, Mr Julie remarked that the technician team of SPTC is working diligently and testing all scanners to make sure they work properly.

He added that in instances that the machine doesn’t work, then the commuter will be allowed to pay their fare in cash and they will be given a hand ticket by the driver.

“The ultimate aim for SPTC is to have a cashless system and this was already in the works so when the virus broke out and the department of health asked us to step in we decided to roll out the service,” said the deputy CEO.

He assured that the long queues at the bus station will cease by today.

Other precautions that the transportation company is taking towards the COVID-19 outbreak is cleaning and sanitising all 200 buses in service every night.

Mr Julie informed Seychelles NATION that SPTC cleans and sanitises its buses every night with chemicals based on the advice of the department of health. He added that the company’s staff are being educated on the precautions that they must take as well as meeting with cleaners to make sure that they are more diligent.

The deputy CEO noted that SPTC is also cleaning up the bus station as well as the public toilets.

Christophe Zialor